It's Always Been You – Chapter 12

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"Morgan, Reid…It's Emily…she's still in the wreck." Rossi took over when JJ held an overly distraught Garcia.

"What?" Morgan was running towards the highway, Reid in tow. "Can you see any movement?" He was looking up in the sky, the helicopter was hovering above the wreck, it was now their eyes until they arrived at the scene. He could hear sirens approaching as an LEO was directing traffic.

He shook his head until Morgan and Reid showed him their badges and he nodded and waved them through.

"Reid!" Morgan was shouting amidst the noise and chaos. He had noticed the young agent had stopped short in front of the wreck and was staring at the crunched up vehicle. "Reid! Get over here!" he was waving him over. "I'm going to check on Beth."

Reid turned his head and walked to towards the car, "Derek…I…don't think…I can't…No…" He looked away.

Morgan frowned as he approached him, "Reid…it's Emily. She needs us right now. Come on, talk to her. I have to see about Beth, go!" He then hurried away, leaving Reid by himself.

Reid nodded and leaned into the car and took a deep breath and almost cried.

There was blood all over Emily as her face was covered completely with it. He noticed she had her seatbelt on and figured it was what saved her life. The steering wheel was jammed up right against her.

"E...Em...Emily…Emily…hey, it's me, Spencer."

Emily's eyes fluttered for a moment as she moaned, "Rei…"

"Yeah, it's me. Hey… um," he couldn't go on.

"Ja..." She uttered.

Presuming she was asking about Jack, he replied, "Jack's fine. He's with Garcia and JJ."

Emily tried to nod but began to groan.

"No…don't move your neck, Em!" Reid uttered as he reached in and held her head firmly. He saw some deep gashes in her forehead where blood was flowing from.

Reid looked up and frowned, "We need paramedics! Hurry!"

"Reid!" He turned around and saw Hotch approaching, his face was as pale despite the heat in the day and the sun shining down. "Where's she?"

"Hotch, it's Emily! She…she…must not move, her neck! Waiting for the paramedics…Did you know 67 % of spinal cord injuries are cause by mishandling of the injured victims of vehicular accidents….."

Hotch looked at him anxiously, "Reid….what are you talking about?"

Reid shook his head, "I don't know but I'm looking at Emily's possible neck injuries and I'm thinking that aside from her facial lacerations and head wounds, she might be suffering from internal injuries and…and…"

"Reid…Reid!" Hotch shoved at Reid as the young man was beginning to show signs of suffering from shock. "This is Emily we're talking about, Reid! My Emily!" He exclaimed to him as he shoved Reid's hands away from Emily. "Move away from her! I got it."

Reid released his hold slowly as he watched Hotch took over. "He...he said…my Emily? What does…does it mean?" He was frowning heavily." He looked at his hands which were bloody, "Emily is….hurt, Hotch…"

"Reid! Get the firefighters! She's stuck…I can't get her out! Her legs are wedged under the steering wheel! Go!" Hotch yelled to him.

Reid was looking at him dazedly, "But Emily is hurt, Hotch…hold her head, Morgan said I need to hold her head, so I should hold her head."

Hotch glared at him impatiently, "Reid! Get a hold of yourself! Firefighters! Go, now!"

Reid nodded blankly and turned away from Hotch and looked for the fire trucks. "Fire fighters…yeah, got to find them. Emily needs fire fighters…her legs…"

Hotch was breathing hard, "Em, babe…talk to me, it's Aaron."

"Aar…" Emily muttered. "Lov…yo…."

Morgan was standing next to Hotch as he watched him.

He nodded, "I know. I love you too."

Derek took a double take!

"Hotch! What are you talking about? Beth…and you?"

Hotch ignored him as he continued to talk to Emily in the confines of the crammed car.

"Can you hear me, Em?" He stroked her face gently through the blood slicking down.

"Lov…Aar…Marr…now…." She groaned.

Hotch frowned, "What're you saying, Em?"

She smiled briefly which amazed Hotch; he knew she was in pain as he could see her labored breathing. Morgan was leaning in next to Hotch as well.

"Princess, the firefighters are coming up, hang in there!"

"Don't talk, Em…save your breath."

"Noo…Aar…maarr…now…"

There it was again.

Hotch and Morgan exchanged confused looks.

"Em, I don't understand."

She lifted a bloody hand and held his left hand and touched his ring finger, "Marr…" She breathed out.

"Em, are you saying you want to marry?" He arched his brow.

"Yes…now…"

"Emily, do you know you're in wreck?" Morgan asked her.

"I …want… to marr…now…to you…Aar…"

Morgan shook his head, "You're not thinking straight, Emily. This is Hotch, he's engaged to Beth, remember?"

Hotch looked at Morgan, "No, Morgan. I'm not…anymore. It's a long story, Derek but it's Emily I love and she knows it."

Stunned, Derek stared at him, "Hotch, I think you're in shock and you don't know what you're talking about. Beth is dead and I'm sorry but you're…"

Hotch shook his head, "Derek, now's not the time. Emily is the one."

"Aar…marr…now…" She repeated. "Won't… go… down…not…marry… you."

He knew what she meant instantly, "I've to find a priest, babe." Hotch said. "I have to find a priest, I'll be back." He leaned in and kissed her. "Don't go without me, Em."

She grinned.

"Derek, hold her head…"

They changed position as a very confused Derek watched Hotch straightened and walked away.

A minute later, the firefighters, paramedics arrived at the same time as they began to work to get her out of the car.

They nodded at Morgan, "We've got her stable, sir. You can let go."

Morgan nodded and stepped back and bumped into Reid.

"Where's Hotch?" Reid asked.

"Something about a priest." He shook his head as if Hotch had lost his mind. "Do you know anything about Hotch and Emily?"

Reid narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean? He said 'my Emily' just now. I'm not sure."

"Yeah, he told her he loved her, and I thought he and Beth were getting married."

Reid nodded in confusion.

Hotch came back panting as he rushed to her, "I can't find a priest, Em!"

One of the paramedics looked up at him, "She's stable, sir. We don't need a priest. Don't give in so easily, my man."

Hotch shook his head, "It's not for last rites. She wanted to get married."

The man looked at Hotch as if he was ready to be committed, "Er, sir…."

Emily raised her hand again to stop the paramedic, "Mar…now.."

He looked down at her, "You're serious?"

She grinned as she couldn't move her head, they had put a stiff collar to immobilize her head and neck.

He glanced at Hotch, "Sir, is she serious?"

Hotch suddenly smiled at Emily, "Oh, she is. When she wants something, she'll have it."

The paramedics smiled, "Well, I've never done this before but there's a first for everything."

Hotch stared at him, "Are you a priest?"

He nodded, "Ordained and practicing, Father Jeff Brown from Saint Joseph Catholic Church and volunteer paramedics."

Hotch nodded his head as he couldn't shake his gloved hands, "SSA Aaron Hotchner, FBI."

The priest arched his brow, "FBI, huh?"

Hotch nodded, "And Emily Prentiss, she's an agent too."

"Well, this is certainly a good and blessed thing, I was not supposed to be on duty today but someone had called in sick and I happened to drop by and so, here I am!" He grinned happily and then looked up at his fellow paramedic, "Hey Burt! Is she stable?"

"Oh yeah, BP is good, heart is fine, she is a fighter." Burt grinned and turned to Hotch, "You're a lucky man, sir. But we need to get her out first, hang on."

The priest/volunteer paramedic nodded as he slid the stiff board behind Emily and began to strap her in and they pulled her gently out of the mangled mess that was her seat in the car.

Emily was groaning as she winced hard.

"Hang in there, Em…" Hotch grabbed her hand and squeezed it encouragingly.

"Okay…Emily?" The priest asked.

Hotch nodded.

"Emily, I need you to listen to my voice." Father Brown leaned in. "We're going to take you to the ambulance, you and your agent Hotchner will be…huh…married." He looked up grinning, "Wait, we need witnesses, at least two."

Hotch nodded as he stepped out of the mangled car and called out to Morgan, who was on the phone with Garcia, and Reid.

They came jogging in respond to Hotch's urgent calls, thinking the worse.

Hotch grinned at them, "Follow me to the ambulance."

He walked towards the vehicle, Morgan and Reid exchanged looks again as they followed their unit chief as the paramedics placed Emily on the stretcher and wheeled her to the ambulance.

Emily grabbed the priest's hand and said, "No…now…"

Father Brown shook his head, "Not right now, Emily, we're getting you in the ambulance."

She gripped his hand hard, "No….now…Maarry…."

The priest looked at her and suddenly grinned, "Okay…Emily, I see you're quite determined."

She grinned, "Love..."

"I hear you, agent." He chuckled, "Let me get everyone." He began to shake his head. "Okay Burt, you heard the lady…let's get her married and we'll head off, you'd better call the hospital first."

Burt, the other paramedic laughed, "What am I to tell them?"

The priest turned to him, "Tell them we're held up by a wedding in progress. The bride demands to be married or she'd shoot the priest! Right, agent?" He glanced at Emily."

She smiled weakly as she tightened her gripe on him.

He chuckled, "I'm glad we understand each other!" he returned the squeeze.

The three agents were waiting for them by the ambulance when they arrived.

Morgan who was still on the phone with Garcia said, "Mamma, let me call you back." He said as he was looking at Emily on the stretcher.

Hotch was right beside her with Father Brown.

"This is your witnesses, Agent Hotchner?" he asked.

"Witness?" Morgan looked at him. "Witness to what? Hotch, what is going on?"

"You didn't tell them?" the priest looked at Hotch who shook his head, his gaze intent on Emily.

"Okay, er…apparently, these FBI agents wanted to be married now." Father Brown explained.

"Married!" Reid exclaimed. "But…I thought...Hotch…you and Beth?"

Father Brown turned to Hotch, "Who's Beth? Uh, look, if you're married, I can't marry you again."

Hotch shook his head, "I was engaged to be married but I found out she had lied to me, and she is now dead. This woman is my love. I didn't know until recently. I love Emily and she loves me in return." They were holding their hands as they held their gazes at each other.

"Good enough for me," Father Brown grinned. "We need to hurry about this. The surgeon is ready for her at the receiving hospital."

Hotch nodded.

Morgan began to grin and stopped suddenly as he quick dial the phone.

"Hey pretty mamma! You gotta stay on the line for this…just stay on the line and put Jack on too." He held it out to the priest and nodded, "Okay, we can begin."

Hotch looked at Emily's eyes tenderly, "You're one heck of an unusual woman, Emily Prentiss but I wouldn't change anything. I love you very much." He leaned in and kissed her.

"Er, Agent…I haven't begun yet?" Father Brown tapped on Hotch's shoulder as he grinned.

"Sorry, I was eager…"

"I see, okay…everyone, ready?"

They all nodded while Emily squeezed Hotch's hand, "She's ready." He said softly.

…

"I can't believe they'd done it!" Garcia gushed as she sat on the passenger seat of Rossi's SUV.

"Unconventional but original." JJ laughed at the back seat.

"What's unconvensensal…?" Jack scratched his head as he looked up at JJ next to him.

"Unconventional, Jack…it means not regular." She chuckled.

"I still don't know what it means, big people use funny words." Jack shook his head.

They laughed at him.

"I know!" Garcia nodded, "I feel cheated. I want a big wedding for Hotch and Emily! I mean this is our Hotch and our Emily we're talking about!"

"Pen, you know Hotch is not into large wedding, and Emily is definitely not like that either." JJ pointed out.

"I know…" Garcia said disappointed. "And I can't believe it …Hotch and Emily? They snuck it under my radar!"

Dave glanced her peripherally, "Why?"

"Well, I thought it was Beth…not that I quite like her that much. She gives off a lot negative vibes."

"Garcia… Jack…" JJ warned her.

Garcia turned to watch Jack, "Oh, yeah. I forgot junior G-man in here."

"Agent Rossi?" Garcia turned to him, "Could you speed it up?"

Dave turned to glare at her, "I'm driving as fast as I can without breaking any rules, Garcia."

"But…but!"

He shook his head firmly, "No, sweets. Look, Emily is in surgery now, and we'll be waiting for her when we get there. It's no sense hurrying right now."

"But..."

"Zip!"

"I…"

"Shut it, Garcia!" He said as he shook his head.

"Can I…?"

"Ah! No!"

"Oh!"

"Can it!" He kept his gaze ahead of him as he drove on, Jack was giggling in the back seat.

"Pen," JJ leaned forward, "I'd listen to him if I were you, he'll stop and throw you out."

Garcia glanced at him peripherally and saw Dave's brow which was arched high and decided to clam up.

"Wise decision…" Dave muttered.

"…wait till you see what I'm gonna do to your bank account, Rossi." She volleyed back.

JJ shook her head in the back, "I'm glad I'm not involved."

"…touch my money, kitten, and I'll burn all your trolls."

Her eyes widened, "You wouldn't?"

"Watch me."

"You're not playing fair!" She sulked.

…..

"Aaron…." A soft voice uttered.

"I'm here, Em."

"I…can't move…"

He chuckled, "That's because you're in a cast, babe."

"Cast?"

"Do you remember anything, Em?" Dave asked her.

"Hey, Dave…no…wait, yeah…accident."

"That's right, kiddo," Dave said. "What do you think you're doing? Dare devil stunt?" he teased her.

"No…leap of …faith." She uttered.

Hotch and Dave began to laugh. "That is a bad joke, Em." Hotch said as he shook his head.

She smiled weakly, "Where am I?" Her eyes were still closed. "Shangri-La?"

"You wish, dear." Dave chuckled. "You're still in the hospital and it's no Shangri-La or El-Dorado."

"Hospital? How long?"

"Four days."

She frowned, "That long? But I'm supposed to get back to work."

The two men chuckled.

"Honey, you're not going anywhere for a while." Hotch smiled.

"Honey?" Emily blinked, "I was dreaming I was married."

Hotch came into her view and held her left hand up, "I'm afraid you're not dreaming about it."

A smile spread across her battered face as she looked at the gold band on her third finger. "It's not a dream?"

"No, Em. You and I did the deed. We're official, well somewhat."

Emily frowned as she looked at Hotch, "Wha…what do you mean?"

"If you'd remember…which you probably don't, we were married on a major highway and the marriage registrar is having some difficulty understanding the reason of the circumstances of the location."

She smiled, "Sorry, Hotch."

"Hey...it's Aaron now, remember?" He kissed her knuckles tenderly.

"Oh my! This is too much! Cover your eyes, Jack!" Derek grinned happily.

Garcia and Reid followed behind them, bearing flowers and stuffed animals.

As Emily was laid down flat on her back on the bed, she could not see them but she could hear their boisterous sounds as well as scented floral bouquet as they sat it nearby table.

Derek leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Hello Princess, glad to see you're awakened finally."

Jack grinned as Derek had picked him up and helped him leaned over so he could plant a kiss as well on Emily. "Hi…Miss Emily."

"Miss Emily?" Garcia exclaimed. "She's your step-mamma now! You must call her something beside Miss Emily!"

"Just Emily is fine," Emily said from her bed as Jack sat on the edge of the bed.

He nodded, "I like it."

Hotch nodded in agreement, "It's settle, then."

"But what happens if Emily has a baby?" Garcia asked him.

"Garcia, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Emily's still in traction for the moment, let's take it one day at a time."

"But I have a protest to make," She glared at him.

"Go ahead, Garcia."

"When Emily, our peach, is all well again, I must insist you two have a decent and proper wedding…at Rossi's."

Dave arched his brow, "I have no objection, in fact I like the idea and agree with Penelope on this. I'll pay for the whole wedding."

They all stared at the older agent with shocked expression.

"What?" Dave looked at them. "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"Dave," Hotch began. "You don't have to do this, I'll be more than happy to pay for the wedding ourselves, Emily and I."

"Yes, Dave." Emily chimed in.

Dave shook his head, "No, I insist. I don't mind doing it and really it'll be my wedding gift to the two of you."

Hotch looked at Emily, "What do you say, babe?"

She grinned, "Let him do it. We have to buy a house."

He chuckled as he went over to Dave and hugged the Italian, "Thank you, old friend."

"Hey, no problem, anything for my favorite family," he looked at Hotch meaningfully.

Hotch nodded, touched by his sincere gesture.

"Hello? Is she awakened?" JJ, Will and Henry came in soon after as she greeted everyone and saw the entire BAU family in the room.

Garcia rushed to JJ and broke the happy news to her.

"That's great! When's that happening?" JJ grinned from ear to ear

"When I'm walking again," Emily said. "I'm not rolling down the aisle on a wheelchair, crutches or any walking devices."

They all laughed at her.

"Daddy,"

"Yeah, buddy?"

"Can I call Emily …Mommy?"

Hotch tightened his hand on Emily's grasp. "Is that what you want, Jack?"

The young boy nodded. "Mommy says it's okay."

Emily began to blink rapidly as tears fell from her face.

Hotch was feeling emotional too as he went to Jack and gathered him into his arms. "It's okay if you want to do that, I'd like it very much."

Jack nodded into Hotch's shirt, "Mommy says Emily is my new mommy 'cause I told her I love her."

Hotch nodded, "Yeah, I told mommy I love Emily very much too."

"Hey!" Emily uttered. "Can I have a hug here too?"

Jack pulled away from Hotch as he leaned down and hugged Emily, "I love you, Mommy."

"Oh, baby, I love you too!" Emily reached around and wrapped Jack into her body as she cried.

Garcia was crying into Derek's shirt as he held her.

JJ was blinking her eyes rapidly as she held back her tears.

Reid was doing the same thing.

….

Epilogue –

It was the talk of the BAU wedding in the Bureau of the century!

Okay, I'm exaggerating.

According to JJ and Penelope, it was the most beautiful wedding ever!

Six months after the horrific wreck, Garcia got her wish; a big lavish wedding between Aaron Hotchner and Emily Prentiss.

It was a highly anticipated event for everyone involved.

Even the Catholic priest who'd married Hotch and Emily at the scene of the accident was asked to re-officiate their wedding officially which he was more than happy to do so; of course the happy couple made a generous donation to his church as well as a big donation to the fire and paramedics department he'd volunteered at.

Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss and her husband were at the wedding; she certainly would not want to miss her only offspring's nuptial!

Her father had reluctantly given her away but he was proud of gaining such an honorable and respectable son-in-law, not to mention a delightful step grandson in Jack!

They danced into the night…Emily and Aaron; they had not stopped laughing and smiling since they said 'I do'… again.

Everyone was happy for them, it was a very happy occasion and it could not have happened to a much deserved couple than them.

As they rode off to their honeymoon, a wedding present from the Ambassador and Mr. Prentiss, a one-week trip to Paris.

Garcia and JJ almost salivated as they waved them off to their happy journey as Jack was to stay with JJ and Will.

Reid who was still holding the bride's bouquet was smiling shyly at the few of the remaining female party guests while Derek was whispering encouraging yet futile words to the resident genius.

Dave Rossi and Erin Strauss were observing the wedding, "Well Erin," he poured more wine into her glass and his to her, "I'd say it was a very successful wedding."

Erin nodded, "Yes it was, Dave. You done well, you were a marvelous host."

"Saluté," he raised his glass to her."

She raised hers, "Congratulations."

….

In the back seat of the car, heading to Dulles Airport;

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Prentiss-Hotchner?" Aaron asked her, smiling as he held her hand.

She returned his smile, "I'm still on a high." She giggled. "I don't think I'd want to come down from this happy drug."

He nodded as he chuckled; his dimples had not stopped deepening since the beginning of the wedding. "Me too."

She grinned, "You're okay with this?" She meant her last name.

"If it pleases you, Emily, and as long as my name is still in there, I'm happy." He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.

She beamed, "I'm very pleased. Mr. Hotchner." She teased him.

He looked at her intently, "I love you."

She leaned in to him, "I love you too."

They kissed for a very long time, all the way until they arrived at the airport.

….THE END…..

Thank you to Everyone! Who reviewed every chapter! Of this story and read it.

This could not have happened without your encouragement and support and words!

Thank you! and please review to this last chapter, let me know what you think!

Love!

No, there will not be a sequel to this story but there is a new story in the works! I know another Hotch/Emily shipper story

Look for it tomorrow! Title: Viper Strikes Again!

Oh yes, He's baaack!